Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-12-21
ANNAPOLIS Md WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER
a CROOKED STICK sTRAleHTENED.



Schoolboy-A New Creature.
had an ugly, unruly boy in my room,
and he gave me more trouble than all the
rest of the class. All through the differ
ent grades Of the large grammar school
he had been a terror to his teachers, and
he was hurried on to the next teacher
with surprising alacrity and precision.
He never lacked promotion. When l in
herited him / felt as il Nemesis had over
taken me, and just how to control him
and secure any kind OF work from him
was problem long wrestled with. For
several weeks he was the terror of the
room, and my reputation for good order
and dignity was, felt, fast disappearing.
The boy would not obey unless he felt
like it, and punishments had no effect
on him. He was there, he knew he was
there; he had a reputation to sustain; he
had earned it by several years close APP
plication to wrong doing, and he meant
to maintain ii at all hazards.
1t is unnecessary to narrate his pranks.
Every teacher has had such boys, and will
readily recognize this one. Every plan /
evolved for the regeneration Of the boy
proved abortive. He wouldn't reform.
Finally, by accident, / stumbled on the
cure. am not ashamed to say that it was
an accidental plan, for it was one of those
unexpected things that philosophers tell
us are bound to come to pass.
discovered that he was interested in
his drawing, or rather was interested in
sketching odd bits Of scenery, or objects
i'll the room, not even emitting his re-
spected teacher, who was typical school
marin and wore glasses. resolved to
make the most of this one talent-if tall
ent it was-and so one day, when / was
in my best and sweetest mood, asked the
terror if he would not draw plan for
some shelves / wanted put up in my
closet. He assented, and the sketch was
neatly and accurately made. There was
a new look. in his eyes and new express
sion on his face when he gave me the pa
per on which his drawings were made.
Then advanced slowly and cautiously.
/ needed some maps made, following a
new invention Of mine in cartography, and
again / employed the terror, and again the
result was encouraging. The maps were
models of neatness and precision. / ju
diciously praised him. and exhibited the
maps to the class and called for copies.
None ever equaled his, and his joy was
complete.
We were studying the continent of Asia,
and the terror never had his geography
lesson learned; DuJ Wnen 1 suggested InaI
if he were to keep up his reputation in
drawing he must draw the details of the
country he was sketching, geography be-
came a new stuiy TO him, and he easily
made excellent progress in this branch.
To do this he had TO forego some of his
''fooling business" and it was given up
simply because he had something more to
his liking to do.
In fine and to the point, the terror came
out Of his chrysalis state a new creature.
His old ways were left, and he readily
adopted the better method of doing and
living. From a slouching, unkempt, un
couth, shambling, horrid boy, he emerged
into being a respectable, neat, tidy, order
loving, painstaking and industrious young
man. l had found that there was some
thing he could do, and something he liked
to do, and that was all there was to it.
BY doing something worth the doing he
mac no time or liking for doing what was
not worth ul5 doing, and mischief hecame
no longer the object &C his existence
Winthrop in American Teacher